Check-punch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. A. HOUSE. CHECK PUNGH.

No. 464,755. Patented Deo. 8, 1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,.

J. A. HOUSE.

y CHECK PUNCH. N0.v464,755. Patented 3&0. 8, 1891.

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ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ALFORD HOUSE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

CHECK-PUNCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,755, dated December 8, 1891.

Application filed May 9, 1891. Serial No. 392,161. (No model.)

, ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in check-punches, and has for its object to provide a machine of this description which shall be simple and easy of operation, and in which the punches and the check-support shall be so arranged that the punching of the check shall be accomplished in full view of the operator; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the construction and the several combinations of elements hereinafter fully explained, and then recited in the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be able fully to understand its construction and method of operation, I will describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specitication, and in which-A Figure l is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a vertical section showing the parts in one position; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the parts in another position; Fig. 4, a detail plan view of the check-carriage; Fig. 5, a detail section through the punch-bar at line y y of Fig. l.

Like numerals denote the same parts in all the figures.

l denotes a hollow base, preferably cast from iron, and mounted above this upon blocks or legs?) is a hollow head '-1, which projects outward over the base, as seen at Fig. 2.

5 is a punch-carrying bar, extending the whole length of the front of themachine. It is provided with a longitudinal seat 6, whose purpose will be presently explained, and with a series of vertical slots 7, which are out vertically into its face at regular intervals and to a uniform depth. In each of these slots is 'seated a punch-shank 8 of at sheet met-al,

bearing a punch-bearing head 9. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 3, these punch-heads stand and operate in a vertical plane considerably outside the vertical plane of the faceplate. Each of the punch-Shanks is also provided with a lug 10, which projects rearwardly through a slot in the head 5 and is engaged by the end of a spring ll, secured to the under side of the casting which forms the head. This lugalso serves as a stop to limit the upward movement of the punch-shank. The upper end of each punch-shank on its inner edge bears two or more teeth 12, and these are engaged by similar teeth upon an operating-lever 13. All the operating-levers, in num'-l ber equal to the punches, are seated in the several slots 7 in the punch-carrying bar, and are fulcrumed upon a small rod orwire 14, which lies in the seat G. The levers and the punch-Shanks, when in assembled position, are held as against displacement by means of a face-plate l5, having slots 1G, in which the operating-levers may move, said face-plate being secured to the front of the punch-carrying bar by means of screws, as seen in Fig. l. Between the back of this face-plate and each of the punch-Shanks is interposed a small bow-spring 17, whose function is to constantly press the punch-shank rearwardly against the back of its seat. The front of each punch-shank is slightly recessed and the spring moves with it, as seen at Fig. 3. Beneath the line of punches the base bears a line of properly-constructed dies 1S, one for each punch. In front of the dies a way is cut inthe base, and in this runs a slide-bar 19. This slide-bar has secured thereto at one end a thin metallic plate 20, a strip 2l being interposed at the point ot' connection. This plate is slotted longitudinally, as seen at 22, to admit of the free downward action of the punches, and its rear edge is turned upwardly and provided with spacing-teeth 23. Near one end this plate bears a post 24:, in which is journaled a clamping-lever 25, whose lower edge is provided with two teeth or points 26, and these latter project through holes in the plate and engage the upper surface of the slide-bar. The clamping-lever is kept in its downward or clamping position by means of a spring 27, and a handle 28, secured upon IOO the end of the plate, serves to move the slidebar and its attached parts lcugthwiseof the machine. The flat top of the overhanging head furnishes a convenient support for one or more inkstands, which are shown as set thereon and denoted by the number 29.

In the operation of my invention the lever is raised and the check inserted between the plate and slide-bar, where it is held by the teeth on the spring-returned lever. `By moving the slide-bar along the check may be successively presented to those punches Whose characters it is desired to cut in the check, and said characters will be accu rately spaced by the entrance of the lower end of the punchshank between the teeth 23 on the plate.

As this punch is not provided with any automatic feeding device, the feeding being in great part accomplished by the eye and hand of the operator, the position of the punches and dies and check -carriage-that is, in a vertical plane outside the plane of the faceplate-is highly important, since thereby the View of the portion oi' the check to be punched is practically unobstructed, which would not be the ease if the punch were directly upon the end of the shank and in line therewith, since in that event the portion of the paper to be punched would be underneath the front part of the head and to a great extent shaded and concealed thereby.

l. In a cheek-punch, a longitudinally-extend ed and straight-faced punch-bar provided with slotted seats7 in combination with a series of Ilat punch-Shanks, each provided with an outwardlyprojecting punch head, said Shanks seated one in each of the seats of the bar, a Iiat face-plate adapted to the face of the bar, screws whereby said plate is held in position, and a series of bowed springs interposed between the inner surface of said plate and the several puneh-shanks, substantially as described.

2. The longitudinally-extended and vertical face punch-bar, provided with the slotted seats in its face, in combination with the punch-Shanks seated in said face, the faceplate secured to the punch-bar, and a series of bowed springs interposed between the faceplate and the punch-Shanks, the latter having opposed shoulders for the retention of the springs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

S. The combination, with the slide-bar 19, of the check-plate having spacing-teeth and secured at one end to the slidebar, and a clamping-lever fulcrumed upon said plate and having teeth or points extending through said plate into engagement with the slidebar, and a spring engaging and adapted to Operate upon said lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES -ALFORD HOUSE.

lllitnesses:

SHERMAN HARTWELL llUBBARn, M. C. IIINCHCLIFFE. 

